Holy crap. Where do I begin?

Revolutionary Road, the latest from Sam Mendes (or as I like to call him, “Mr. Winslet”), isn’t so much a sucker punch to the gut as it is an emotionally draining experience. It’s a slow burn of suburban depression and marital disintegration. In other words, it’s a great way to start a new year!

Road is the perfect example of an extremely well crafted film, but one that will likely leave you feeling rather hollow. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet play Frank and April Wheeler, a young couple living in Connecticut in 1955. They’ve been married for about seven years and have two young children.

They met at a party years earlier (which we see in a flashback) and it’s obvious from the get-go that they are naturally drawn to each other. Frank’s a young guy with a lot of promise, but not a ton of direction, while April is an aspiring actress with big dreams of seeing the world and being “special.” This term “special” is something that they (and others) use to describe themselves throughout the film…and it ultimately becomes part of their undoing.

Without revealing too much, it quickly becomes apparent that their love has soured the years since meeting and marrying. April yearns for a life filled with meaning, while Frank is stuck in a job that, while providing for the family, offers no real sense of purpose. It’s presented as a bleak existence and, unfortunately, it results in the couple turning on one another.

If this story sounds familiar, it’s probably because it is. Much like Little Children and even Mendes’ own American Beauty, this is yet another film about the angst of suburban life. To be honest, I’m not sure how to take it. I do understand the frustration of being stuck in a job or situation that’s less than enjoyable. Who doesn’t? That’s a rather universal experience. And I’m not opposed to films that deal with heavy material. Some of my favorite movies involve rather dire circumstances or weighty issues.

My struggle with Road is that it’s just so bleak and oppressive. There’s not much hope anywhere and the characters just continue to spiral out of control. While this is probably true-to-life for some people, there are different ways of dealing with these issues, rather than just lashing out at those closest to you.

Don’t get me wrong: this is a fantastic film to look at. They captured the look and feel of the 50’s era perfectly. Thomas Newman’s score is understated and beautiful. Kate and Leo do an amazing job of embodying a couple that’s tearing each other apart, even as they struggle to love one another. Their skill with the material and characters is evident as you wince with each verbal jab and bad decision that they make.

Perhaps this is the film’s ultimate undoing: they do such fine work that, by the time the credits roll, you feel exhausted. You’ve been dragged through the emotional muck and mire and you’re worn out. It’s a story and a film that was probably worth making, but not one that I would want to sit through more than once.